GREENSBURG, IN - Honda Manufacturing of Indiana LLC (HMIN) in Greensburg has received LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Certification for its Welcome Center, the company announced. The center is the ninth Honda facility in North America to earn LEED certification since 2008.

LEED is a rating system for many types of building construction, including new construction, and is awarded by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI). The GBCI recognizes excellence in green building practice and performance globally through its third-party certification services. HMIN is the first company to receive this distinction in Decatur County.

"Honda associates are engaged in broad-based efforts to reduce the impact of our operations on the environment," said HMIN Vice President Rick Schostek. "This certification is further evidence of our commitment locally to ensure that our Greensburg plant remains at the leading edge of Honda's global "green factory" initiative."

HMIN's Welcome Center was evaluated in six categories: sustainable site, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality and innovative design.

"One of our approaches is the purchase of 100-percent green power for the Welcome Center," said Craig Lloyd, facilities department manager. "We also installed bicycle storage and shower facilities for associates and utilized lumber from the Forest Stewardship Council for sustainable forests in construction."

Additionally, HMIN designated fuel-efficient vehicle parking in the visitor lot and has campus-wide recycling that contributed points to the LEED certification process.

Even outside of the LEED certification process, HMIN has been focused on the environment starting before the plant began mass production two years ago.

"Honda built the Greensburg plant with the environment in mind," added Schostek. "Our campus features seven lakes, two water quality ponds, and we are a zero waste-to-landfill facility, which means no waste from our plant goes to a landfill -- it is either recycled or reused."

In addition, trees and earthen embankments provide a natural buffer between the plant and its neighbors in the Greensburg area.

HMIN also produces the natural gas-powered Honda Civic GX, the cleanest internal combustion engine vehicle ever certified by the U.S. EPA, along with the ultra-low emissions Civic 4-door sedan using domestic and globally sourced parts.

The Civic GX has received top environmental awards including the American Council for Energy-Efficient Economy's "America's Greenest Car" award for five consecutive years.

Honda has also demonstrated leadership in reducing waste to landfills from manufacturing activity in North America. Eight of Honda's North American plants, including HMIN, achieved zero waste to landfill, as Honda moves closer to its goal of achieving zero waste to landfill for all 14 of its plants in the region by April 1, 2011.

HMIN currently operates one shift with approximately 1,000 associates at the Greensburg plant. The 26,400 square foot Welcome Center, which is connected to the plant via a skywalk, serves as HMIN's visitor entrance and includes a lobby, auditorium, meeting rooms, locker rooms and security offices. HMIN is Honda's seventh auto plant in North America and one of 14 major Honda manufacturing facilities in North America.